Harrisburg, Pa
=Sunday Evening—
Augt 5, 1860
Dear Lincoln
— I reached Fort Wayne about 12 oclk Thursday night, &
met Mr Williams at the Depot having previously Telegraphed him to meet me there–
He went on with me to the next station & we talked over Indiana politics
pretty thoroughly= The Breckenridge movement headed by Bright & Fitch he
says, is in Earnest, & the State will go for you, no matter what the result
of the October Election may be– He thinks Col. Lane will be elected, but of
this he is not so entirely hopeful– The Breckenridge men have not put up a
State Ticket, as you know in Indiana-- Mr Williams thinks that the naming of
the Breckenridge Electoral Ticket in Indiana (a movement more formidable than
in Illinios) will so far demoralize the party – as to increase greatly our
chances for carrying the State in October–
Friday at 3 oclk reached Pittsburg, and remained over until
9 at night – I saw Mr Erret & Mr Williams of the Gazette– Genl Purviance
not at home– Everything in Pittsburg and that region of the State, is just as
we could desire it.—
The Republican vote will be immensely increased, in the West
& Northwest—
– I found the opinion there as to the Central Committee
pretty much as we had received it from others– I also ascertained that a
meeting was appointed of some 18, or 20 of our friends – to meet in Phild.
Tuesday Evening. Which I intend to attend– I expected to go to Baltimore
tonight, but finding that Col Curtin will be in an adjoining County to night-morrow,
I have concluded to stay & go & see him– This deranges my plans
somewhat– I spent the entire day of yesterday – with Genl Cameron, & my
interview has been pleasant & eminently satisfactory– He is certainly a
genial, pleasant, and kind hearted man, & many prejudices that I have
heretofore entertained have been removed—
– I found him, exceedingly anxious to have your views on the
subject of the tariff, & that he wanted them so as to be able to assure the
people of the State that they were Satisfactory to him.
Pennsylvania has been deceived so often on the subject of
the Tariff, that it is not surprising that they are fearful & sensitive
about it—
I explained to him, that what your views had been all your
life, & that if you had entertained other views when you embarked in life
that you would have had Douglas's position in the State & that the reason
your speeches were not published, was, that there were no reporters in those
days
I then took out your notes, and commenced reading them,
stating that you wished me to present them to him– He requested me to leave
them with him, & he would hand them to me at Phild– I have seen him to day,
& he says he has read the notes carefully and they are abundantly
satisfactory to him– Genl Cameron, says, that there is not a shadow of doubt of
your carrying Pennsylvania – that you will carry it by a large majority – that
Curtin will be elected – that the Bell movement amounts to nothing in the State,
and that outside of Philadelphia it is literally nothing– He says that there is
a lack of confidence with McClure, but that they will get along with that
harmoniously
Genl Cameron also says that they do not want any money in
the state – that they can raise all they need – but that if money is furnished
that the amount will be magnified, & parties in the State will be jealous
if they dont get some
He has also a pride not to receive money – thinks it
humiliating that Pa. should receive money from NY. & Boston– He advised agt
our receiving any in Illinois from abroad– more hereafter
yr frd
D Davis —
SOURCE: Abraham Lincoln Papers
at the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
